Dispensing device



April 13, 1943. A. L. I EE VEHICLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l Wm, Nm, vNNI I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13, 1943. A. L.. LEE

v VEHICLE MOUNT-ING STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1941 R T N i J W i A m w um. mm wmmw NH NN mw@ om @N M Mifm @Riil/iwwl-ITII. w s., NN ,m d n- U i M ...r www .f .f.. QN. mwN. Lullll.. NN w/ In r| mm. w. WN v -l WN n MN Mw WN N n Q. H HMH il. N m mw ,01N mm MJ Filed March 14,v 1941 5 sheets-sheet 3 N Bm WN QN/ M,

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INVENTOR Patented Apr.13,1943

\DHSPENSING DEVICE Arthur Hammerstein, Great Neck, N. Y. Application August 29, 1940, Serial No. 354,660

2 Claims.

The invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to devices for dispensing commlnuted materials such as sugar, salt, pepper, and the like, from containers, and has for its 1 object tov provide a novel device whereby the further object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing device which in operation develops crushing or expelling forces on the comminuted material whereby dispensing of said material is facilitated and clogging of the dispensing opening tending to interfere with and destroy the hermetic sealing action of the device is avoided. Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates examples of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the novel dispensing device in operation; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a container equipped with the novel dispensing device; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view o the dispensing device on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line fi--i of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an external elevation of the novel dispensing device: Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the dispensing device in operation, and Fig. "l is a detail view, partly in section, showing another form oi the novel dispensing device.

The novel dispensing device, in all of its forms is in the nature of a resilient hollow cap generally constructed in a manner to provide the desired resiliency as by being made of an inherently resilient material such as rubber, said cap being arranged for attachment to a suitable container for the comminuted material to be dispensed.

As shown in the drawing, the device comprises a hollow body i@ having its upper end closed and provided with an annular bevel it and a sloping section I2 extending upwardly and inwardly as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. The section i2 is provided at an intermediate point with a slit i3 which is normally closed with its opposedl surfaces in engagement with each other and in the operation of the device is converted into a discharge opening as willv appear more fully hereinafter; in the preferred arrangementv the slit i3 extends through the sectionv l2 in a direction to locate the opposite surfaces of said slit i3 in bevelled relation to said section i2 and substantially parallel to the major axis of the body iii as shown in Fig. l3. In the illustrated examples the section i2 is formed with a raised annular bead i6 which surrounds and encloses the slit i3 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, and serves to prevent the latter from being torn in the operation of the device; if this protection is not required the bead iii may be omitted. At diametrically opposite points the body i@ is provided with flat pressure surfaces or sections i5 which converge upwardly toward each other as shown in Fig. 4, and are each preferably of upwardly flaring or diverglng form as illustrated in Fig. 5. In the preferred construction When the device is made of rubber or other resilient material, the body lli is transversely thicker or heavier in registry with the pressure surfaces or sections iii than it is at points between the same as -indicated at a and b in Figs. 4 and 3 respectively. With this arrangement the body i@ at the pressure surfaces or sections iii is of maximum eiiiciency in operation as will appear more fully hereinafter, and at v points between said surfaces or sections i5 is oi relatively greater flexibility.

In practice the novel dispensing device is designed for' combination with a container for the comminuted material, in a hammer to constitute e. closure for the open end thereof and preferably so as to be readily removed from said container and replaced thereon at will. Any convenient means may be utilized for combining the device with the the receptacle which itself may be of any conventional type, although in order to secure the most efficient results it is preferred to construct the dispensing device and container as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

In each of the illustrated examples the device is provided with an annular flange IS located at the open end of the body IB and with a second annular ange il located on said body I0 in spaced parallel relation to the flange i6 as shown in the drawing; the second flange il is preferably curved in cross-section or otherwise shaped in a corresponding way.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2 the dispensing device is combined with a container IB which has its lower end closed by means of a removable cap i9 in screw-threaded connection with said cortainer ill as shown. At its upper end the latter is provided with an inwardly directed annular ange 28 which defines an opening having a diameter corresponding substantially to the external diameter of the portion c of the body I8 lying between the flanges I8 and I1. In' order to provide a connection and a seal of maximum efficiency the width of the container flange 20 in the direction of the maior axis of said container I8 is somewhat greater than the distance between the flanges I8 and I1 of the dispensing device or in other words is greater than the normal dimension oi' the portion c thereof in an axial direction.

To combine the dispensing device with the empty container I8, the cap I8 is removed and the dispensing device is inserted through the resulting open end and lengthwise of the container I8 and projected through the opening defined by the flange 20 at the opposite end of said container I8. At the point in this operation at which the flange I'I comes into contact with the inside surface of the flange 28, an outward push is exerted on the device sufficient to force lthe flange I'I out of the container I8 beyond said flange 20. This brings the flange -I8 into engagement with the inside surface of the flange 2II and at the same time causes the ange I1 to engage the outside surface of said flange 28 as shown in Fig. 2. Because of the somewhat greater axial width ofthe flange 20, the portion c of the device is axially stretched by the aforesaid operation and is placed under a tension whereby the flanges I8 and Il are firmly drawn againstv the opposite surfaces of the flange 20- to fix the dispensing device against relative rotation thereon. As a result of this developed tension in the body portion c the device is securely fixed in place on the container I8,'and at the same time the co-operative action of the flanges I8, I1 and 2II provide an absolutely airtight connection between .the dispensing device 'and the container I8. As the slit I8 in its normal closed condition in which its Aopposed bevelled surfaces are in firm engagement with each other also is air-tight the dispensing end of the container is hermetically sealed when the device is in place on said container I8. The opposite end of the latter is correspondingly sealed by the cap I 8 when the latter is in its operative position.

In the form shown in Fig. 7 the device is corre spondingly combined with an internally threaded sleeve 2| arranged for threaded connection with the externally threaded neck I8 with which the container I8l" is provided; in this form the bottom end of the latter may be permanently closed by means of an integral bottom in the conventional manner. The sleeve 2| is provided with an inwardly directed flange 20 corresponding to the previously described flange 28 and likewise having an axial width somewhat in excess of the normal distance between the flanges I8 and II of the dis= pensing device. The latter is combined with the sleeve 2i by forcing the flange I'I through the opening thereof from the inside to bring the flanges I8 and I1 into engagement respectively with the inside and outside surfaces of the flange 20* and to place the portion c under axial tension in the same way as set forth hereinbefore t thereby flx the device against relative rotation on said sleeve 2 I. To combine the dispensing device with the container I8b in the form under discusslon, the sleeve 2| is screwed upon the threaded neck I8n to bring the flange I8 into firm engagement with the end face of said neck I8 as illustrated in Fig. 7. When thus combined with the container neck I8 the dispensing device also is at the same time hermetically seals the same as in the form f'lrst described.

Y The comminuted material may be introduced into the container I8 by removing the cap I8 and without disturbing the dispensing device, while in the form shown in Fig. '7 it is necessary to remove the dispensing device by unscrewing the sleeve 2i from the neck I8* to enable the comminuted material to be introduced into the container I8".

In use the container I8 or I8b is grasped in the hand and tilted downwardly toward its dispensing end with the thumb and forefinger in engagement with the opposite pressing surfaces or sections I8 as shown in Fig. 1. When the container I8 or I8h occupies the inverted angular dispensing position shown in Fig. 1, the interior normally sloping surface of the sloping section I2 occupies a substantially horizontal 'position' and constitutes a collecting surface for the comminuted contents of the container I8 or I8. In other words, in this dispensing position the comminuted material in the container I8 will pass into the interior of the body III and rest upon the interior surface of the normally sloping section I2 in easy accessibility to the slit I8 as will be apparent. When it is desired to expel the comminuted material, pressure is exerted by the thumb and forefinger upon the opposite surfaces or sections I8 to force the same toward each other. 'Ihis pressing action of the thumb and forefinger of the device spreads the opposite bevelled surfaces of the slit I8 apart and converts said slit I3 into a discharge opening as illustrated in Fig. 6. This permits the comminuted material to escape through the open slit I3 as shown at d in Fig. 1, this dispensing of the comminuted material continuing as long as the pressure of the thumb and forefinger upon the surfaces or sections I8 continues. By manipulating the thumb and forefinger in a manner to alternately press upon the surfaces or sections IB and to relieve said surfaces from such pressure, the comminuted material within the body I0 is sub- Jected to an intermittent crushing or expelling force tending to expel said comminuted material outwardlythrough the open slit I8; in this way the amount of comminuted material whichis dispensed may be accurrately controlled as to its amount. When the pressure of the thumb and forefinger upon the surfaces or sections I 8 is discontinued, the slit I8 automatically returns to its closed position. Because of the bevelled form of the opposed surfaces of said slit, any grains of comminuted material remaining in the slit I8 at the termination of the dispensing operation will automatically be forced from said slit I3 so that a complete closing of the latter is at all times automatically attained. As a result of this arrangement the y container is always hermetically sealed when not in use to thereby protect the comminuted contents against any atmospheric changes which may take place so that said contents are always in condition for easy dispensing. The device is i accordingly always of maximum efficiency in the securely fixed in place on the container I8b and 75 dispensing of comminuted material suchas sugar, salt, and the like, regardless of the atmospheric conditions which may exist at the time. The relatively greater thickness of the portion a of the device facilitates the camming action of said device in forcing the comminuted material outwardly through the open slit I8 while the relatively thinner portion b provides an'y inherent elasticity or resilience in said device which increases its operative emciency. The annular bead Il, which may be omitted if not required. serves to prevent the material in the sloping secvdation to irregularities in the roadway. such as to place wheels of the vehicle at diilerent levels, and the cushioning effect of the thin broad crossplates makes an accommodation to roughness of the roadway. Whether one or both those properties be incorporated in the vehicle mounting, they are obtained without utilizing substantial vertical space Vin the overall height, of the vehicle, and without complication of the vehicle structure.

I claim as my invention: i

1. The combination with a mine vehicle body and a pair of wheels, of a single steel cross-,plate connected at its ends to the Wheels beneath the body for supporting the latter, said plate being thin enough to possess moderate resiliency and being much broader than it is thick to provide it with strength adequate for the sustention of heavy loads, and a. rigid cross-structure pivoted at its center to the body on the centerline of the vehicle and having load transmitting engage ment -with the plate at points between said centerline and wheels, the portion of the plate between said points being free to ilex downwardly under load.

2. The combination with a mine vehicle body and a pair of wheels, of a single steel cross-plate connected at its ends to the wheels beneath the body for supporting the latter, said plate being thin enough to possess moderate resiliency and being much broader than it is thick to provide it with strength adequate for the sustention of heavy loads, and a rigid cross-structure pivoted at its center to the body on the centerline of the vehicle and with its ends having `load transmitting engagement with the plate at points between said centerline and wheels, the end portions of said cross-structure engaging the top of the plate being concave length-wise thereof, and the portion of the plate between said end portions being free to flex downwardly under load.

3. The combination with a mine vehicle body and a pair of wheels, of a single steel cross-plate connected at its ends to the wheels beneath the,

body for supporting the latter, said plate being thin enough to possess moderate resiliency and being much broader than it is thick to provide it with strength adequate for the sustention of heavy loads, a Wide rigid cross-structure extending lengthwise of the central portion of said plate and engaging it at points between said centerline and Wheels whereby to leave the portion of the plate between said points free to ex downwardly, and a long pivot pin extending lengthwise of the vehicle along its centerline and pivotally connecting said cross-structure thereto, said pin being the sole means for connecting the cross-plate s to the body and being long enough to hold the plate against lateral misalignment.

and a pair of wheels, of a single steel cross-plate connected at its ends to the wheels beneath the body for supporting the latter, said plate being thin enough to possess moderate resiliency and being much broader than it is thick to provide it with strength adequate for the sustention of heavy loads, a long and wide tubular cross-member enclosing the central portion of saidl plate with only its ends normally engaging the plate, the extreme ends of the top wall of said member being curved upwardly and its bottom wall being 'curved downwardly to permit the plate therein to ex vertically, and a. long pivot pin extending transversely through the upper central portion of`4 said member for pivoting it to the body on the centerline of the vehicle, said pin being the sole plate-positioning connection between the plate and body and effectively restraining the plate from lateral misalignment.

. ARTHUR L. LEE. 

